VR Tech Times

Great engineers make great cars. This is especially true when perfection is the stated goal. Take, for example, Sir Henry Royce’s often-quoted maxim; “take the best that exists and make it better. When it doesn’t exist, design it.” And that is exactly what we are celebrating today: the pursuit of automotive perfection – the legacy of the 100-year-old Phantom nameplate that incredibly can still lay the claim to being the ‘best car in the world.’ And how better to do this than spend quality time with Yohan Poonawalla’s incredible seven-Phantom line-up. The Centurion "The 17EX sure has the ingredients to go fast; a massive engine and slippery body work." Evolved from what was already the ‘best car in the world’ – the Silver Ghost (crowned by Autocar in 1907), the Phantom I took the game forward considerably. The one here is the 17EX, a Phantom prototype built with an express purpose to push the boundaries of speed and cross 100mph (160.9kph).  While doing the ‘ton’ may s...

Our Ather Rizta Z   2.9 joined the Autocar long-term fleet in October 2024 and has covered over 5,500km since. In that time – and across 1.5 years in the fleet – it has largely been a dependable, drama-free electric scooter.  Reliability has mostly been solid. An early software glitch forced the scooter into limp mode and took over a month to resolve. While issues are rare, turnaround time at the service centre remains an area of concern. In fact, even a minor repair required escalation to secure an appointment. This repair included replacing a broken mirror and a chipped brake lever, both totalling roughly Rs 1,700. After sales have been a hiccup in an otherwise well-rounded package. Our primary concern with the Rizta has less to do with the scooter itself and is more service-oriented. For example, during an earlier visit, the scooter was returned to us with some scratches and a slightly bent handlebar – something that hasn’t been rectified since, although it hasn’t a...

The world’s greatest off-roaders offer impressive skills. Steep inclines, slippery surfaces, sand, snow, rocks – this intrepid bunch can do them all. None, however, can come close to managing what the Sherp can. Ladies and gents, say a big hello to what has to be one of the world’s greatest wheeled off-roaders. An off-highway vehicle whose journey begins where regular off-roaders throw their hands in the air and give up. Even more fascinating is that the Sherp SMV N1200 is now manufactured in India at JSW Gecko Motors in Chandigarh. So, come with us as we take you through the production process, the design philosophy, and how this vehicle is operated. The hull floats The hull is made of special steel, and since it floats, the joints are made watertight. Chain-drive system is also sealed in an oil bath. Every Sherp begins with its boat-like hull. JSW, also one of India’s largest steel producers, supplies high-strength steel in various sections, that’s then welded and assembled ...

Veteran Indian rally driver Hari Singh has been reported missing after a speedboat capsized in the Maldives on Thursday (March 19) night. Local reports suggest that seven people were onboard at the time of the incident, including Raymond Group Chairman and Managing Director Gautam Singhania.  Gautam Singhania injured in Maldives speedboat accident Search and rescue operations underway for two Indian nationals, including Hari Singh A spokesperson for Singhania has confirmed that he suffered minor injuries in the accident and has returned to Mumbai for recovery.  The Maldives National Defence Force confirmed that search and rescue operations are underway for two Indian nationals. One of these is reported to be Indian rally legend Hari Singh. Fondly known as ‘The Flying Sikh’, Singh won the Indian National Rally championship five times in the 1990s and even won the inaugural Asia Zone Rally Championship. After representing India in multiple international rallying events, h...

JLR creative chief Gerry McGovern will officially leave the company at the end of March, Autocar UK has reported. In December last year, Autocar India broke the news that he was asked to step down after more than two decades working on the Jaguar and Land Rover brands. McGovern, who was also a former board member, will leave the company to establish his own creative consultancy. McGovern was key in shaping Defender, Range Rover and Discovery design language  Former creative chief and board member to now set up his own creative consultancy  Gerry McGovern's role at JLR McGovern’s departure comes at a critical juncture for JLR as it continues to execute its multi-brand transformation strategy, which includes electrification across all its marques and a sharper focus on high-margin luxury segments. Further information regarding his new consultancy isn't yet known, but details will no doubt be released when he leaves JLR at the end of the month. McGovern was considered a...

SUVs remain the most popular body style in the car industry, and the sales numbers reflect that. In the calendar year 2025, six of the 10 bestselling cars were SUVs. Here, we take a look at five SUV segments, from sub-compact to premium, and the top-selling model in each category, based on 2025 sales data. Note that all powertrains offered by each model, including ICE and electric, have been considered in this feature. Sub-compact SUV Pre-facelift Tata Punch. The Tata Punch is the entry point to the carmaker's SUV lineup and it nails the brief: aggressive pricing, a feature-rich package and priority to safety. Its petrol and CNG choices give it a wide appeal; a turbo-petrol powertrain was added just this year. The Punch even topped India’s passenger vehicle sales charts in 2024, ending Maruti Suzuki’s four-decade run at number one. With this year’s facelift, it looks set to stay competitive. The Hyundai Exter is its only rival right now. SUV Units Tata Punch 1,73,...

The final round of the TVS Young Media Racer Program brought us back to familiar ground at MMRT. But, unlike earlier rounds, Chennai greeted us with near-perfect conditions. Cool air, overcast skies and a steady breeze meant lower fatigue and sharper focus – a small but welcome advantage when everything else was about to change. Just before our initial briefing began, TVS threw us a curveball. Instead of racing on the Apache RTR 200, we would be competing on the Apache RTR 310, making its track debut in race-ready form. A sizable bump in displacement and performance over the bike we were used to meant excitement was unanimous, but it also meant resetting everything we thought we knew. The race-spec RTR 310 was far removed from its road-going counterpart. A remapped ECU with revised fuelling and ignition timing unlocked sharper responses, while every electronic aid was disabled. No ABS, no traction control, no quickshifter and Track Mode was permanently engaged. A full system exhaust...

Known for its strong performance and effortless drivability, the diesel-automatic version of the Mahindra XUV 7XO has traditionally been the more sensible choice for buyers who prioritise efficiency and long-distance usability. We put it through our city and highway fuel-efficiency tests to see how it performs in real-world conditions. Comes with auto engine stop-start system  Gets 4 drive modes: Zip, Zap, Zoom and Custom Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel-AT mileage tested  The XUV 7XO diesel is powered by the familiar mHawk 2.2-litre engine, producing 185hp and 450Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed torque-converter automatic. Unlike the petrol version, which does without drive modes, the diesel gets Zip, Zap and Zoom, along with the recently introduced Custom mode. For our drive, we left the vehicle in the most economical Zip setting throughout and kept the auto engine stop-start system active to help curb fuel consumption while idling. Incidentally, much like the petrol...

If you’re looking to buy your first Ducati , chances are you’re looking at the Scrambler - the company’s most affordable and accessible machine. What may throw a spanner into the works is the fact that it is offered in five variants with a wide price band separating the most affordable from the most expensive. Here, we’ll explain in detail what each variant brings to the table in terms of price and equipment. All prices ex-showroom, India Ducati Scrambler variant breakdown Icon Dark The most affordable way to buy a brand-new Ducati is to purchase the Icon Dark version of the Scrambler. It may be the base variant but you get essentially the same mechanicals and largely the same styling as the higher versions. As the name suggests, the Icon Dark variant can only be had in one colour - black - and most of the components on the bike also have a blacked-out finish. Common to the entire Scrambler range is the air/oil-cooled, 803c, V-Twin Desmodue engine making 73hp and 65.2Nm of torq...